New approach toward the total synthesis of (+)-aphidicolin by tandem transannular Diels–Alder/aldol strategy

The synthesis of a 15-membered macrocyclic triene containing all the required substituents of ring A of (+)-aphidicolin () is reported. This compound underwent a thermal transannular cycloaddition followed by an intramolecular aldol reaction to yield tetracycle containing 8 chiral centers which is considered a key intermediate for the synthesis of (+)-aphidicolin and related analogs.